“The Letter of the Law”

From the collections of PVMA • Digital image © Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Assoc. • Image use information

About this item

The 20th century writer and satirist H.L. Mencken wrote that the Puritans of the 17th century lived oppressed by “the fear that someone, somewhere might be happy.” Photographers Frances and Mary Allen of Deerfield, Massachusetts, captured this Colonial Revival interpretation of Puritan society when they posed the Reverend Lewis Spooner as a Puritan magistrate. Titled, “The Letter of the Law,” the photograph conveys the early 20th century impression of Puritan culture as stern and unforgiving.

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Details

Item typePhotograph
PhotographerAllen, Frances and Mary
Date1916
PlaceDeerfield, Massachusetts
TopicReligion, Church, Meetings & Revivals
EraProgressive Era, World War I, 1900–1928
MaterialPaper
Process/FormatPlatinum
Dimension details.01: 8.125″x 6.125″ with a border .02: 8″ x 5″ no border
Catalog #1996.14.0295.01-.02
View this item in our curatorial database →
Allen, Frances and Mary, photographer. The Letter of the Law. Photograph. 1916. Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, American Centuries. https://americancenturies.org/collection/1996-14-0295-01-02/. Accessed on December 7, 2024.

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